The sister of a woman allegedly stabbed by her husband in Tarxien earlier this month told police that he had warned her he would stab his wife if he did not get half their property during separation proceedings.

Details of the case were given at the start of the compilation of evidence this morning against Roger Agius, 47 of Fgura, accused of fatally stabbing his wife Catherine, 40.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit said that on the day of the case, Catherine Agius had arrived in hospital with a knife which had a 30cm blade still stuck just under her left breast. She was immediately taken to surgery but passed away.

The accused had told the police that he had been on his way to Marsascala to gather sea urchins but decided to stop in Tarxien to buy cigarettes and to speak to his wife, so that they could possibly work out separation proceedings without having to go to court.

He waited for her on the bus stop in the hope of seeing her and when she was just a meter or a metre and a half away from him, he said that she swore at him.

On hearing this, he grabbed her from her arm, pulled her towards him and stabbed her with a knife which he had held in a bag, the inspector said.

Inspector Zammit said he had asked the accused why, if he was going to the beach, he had not carried a towel. Mr Zammit said he did not need one.

He had told the police that before the separation proceedings began, he had thought that his wife was having an affair. He accepted the fact that she was cheating on him, but he would not accept the fact that she wanted to take all their property.

The inspector said the victim's sister, Miriam Malancovic, had told the police that she did not know that her sister was in any other relationship, but her husband had a lot of problems with work which resulted from his alcohol addiction, and this had started from the beginning of their relationship.

The inspector said the accused had, however, denied having an addiction problem and just liked alcohol.

He said the victim's sister also told the police that she felt sorry for her sister, who did not even have enough money to feed her kids, She would stay without food and clothes just to provide for them.

She told the police that the accused once told her that if, as a result of their separation proceedings he did not get half her property, including a flat given to her before marriage, he would stab her, the inspector said.

The case continues.